On Wednesday, a state panel swiftly and unanimously passed a proposal that would strike a portion of state law that requires the marine agency to maintain a permanent office in Newport News. The legislation must be approved by the full General Assembly.

Marine Resources Commissioner Steve Bowman told the House Agriculture, Chesapeake Bay and Natural Resources Committee that the agency has no immediate plans to relocate the 70-person office. Bowman said that agency could find cheaper office space, perhaps on the redesigned Fort Monroe after it closes as a military base, but current law locks the headquarters within the boundaries of Newport News.

The statute "was there many years before I was," said Bowman, who has been with agency for 16 years. "This (proposal) would clear some brush and leave our options open."

Newport News officials did not testify on the legislation in Richmond on Wednesday, but Kim Lee, a spokeswoman for City Manager Randy Hildebrandt said, "We will oppose this," noting the long relationship between the agency and the city.

Nevertheless, the House panel approved the bill 19-0.

Bowman said the VMRC currently pays a private owner $300,000 a year to lease office space in a 10-story building a couple blocks from City Hall in Newport News. He noted that under the state code he could hypothetically move the headquarters miles north to Denbigh, but not 10 blocks east across the line into Hampton.

Bowman stressed that the agency has no plans to move, but said officials could save taxpayer money by moving the main office or consolidating different operations onto a single site. Bowman noted that once the Army leaves Fort Monroe in 2011, the agency could move onto the old outpost and take up residence near the center of Hampton Roads' waterways.

Del. William Barlow, D-Isle of Wight, sponsored the proposal along with committee chairman Del. Harvey Morgan, R-Gloucester. Barlow told the panel that he hasn't spoken with anyone who opposes the legislation.

"I have not heard any controversy," Barlow said, "with the possible exception of one person from Newport News."

Del. M. Kirkland Cox, R-Colonial Heights, sits on the agriculture committee and he speculated that the antiquated requirement could possibly be traced back to an "influential delegate" with a stake in the Peninsula. Cox's allusion was likely a nod to former Newport News Democratic Del. Alan Diamonstein or deceased Hampton Sen. Hunter Andrews, who wielded significant clout as the longtime head of the Senate Finance Committee.